Buying new washing machine, don't want soap drawer on the left !

Carer

HOTPOINT Aqualtis has it inside the door.

GwylimT

Carer wrote: »

HOTPOINT Aqualtis has it inside the door.

I think that might be the one I saw, a rather large black translucent door in the very centre, but no external drawer.

BlondeHeadOn

sophieschoice wrote: »

Would a toploader fit?

Good idea but no - it's under a worktop.


I like the sideways thinking though... :-)


The annoying thing is that when we designed the kitchen about 10 years ago it was easy to get right-hand-soap washing machines - my parents had one along with other people I know, and I just assumed that I would be able to get one when we came to change the current w/m.


I never imagined that there would be some 'soap drawer concordat' drawn up which means that all washing machines now have to have the soap drawer on the left hand side !

BlondeHeadOn

GwylimT wrote: »

Why would you need to wait for installation to see if it fits? What is stopping you from opening the drawers in a shop and measuring how far it comes out?

Most drawers pull out, so I don't see how it can be a problem, if you can't open a drawer a few inches long how do you open the door to the actual washing machine?

I don't know if there still is, but both samsung and hotpoint used to make a washing machine without a drawer.

It's in a corner with a drawer-and cupboard unit at 90 degrees to where the w/m has to go, so the problem is that a left hand soap drawer has to pull out alongside the drawer front of the kitchen unit. This drawer has a shaped front and a knob to open it, so the soap drawer can catch and not open properly because of the unit. (If that makes sense.) The rest of the w/m is fine and all fits in the space, but the left hand side is not just straight like a wall.


I never even thought that this would be a problem because they used to make W/Ms with soap drawers that were not on the left hand side - but not any more, apparently!

iammumtoone

Do you use the drawer much? Would it be possible to fit a flat front to the drawer that wouldn't look out of place with the design? Not a very good solution but it seems you are running out of options!!

BlondeHeadOn

Carer wrote: »

HOTPOINT Aqualtis has it inside the door.

Strewth, that is one strange-looking washing machine, but it may fit the bill. I have just spent a couple of minutes watching a video about it's features, which including everything except how to actually load it and put the soap in. It looks like it may be worth investigating though.


Thanks for the suggestion though, this may be worth investigating.


I never thought I'd end up choosing a new washing machine just because it's the only model available now that doesn't have a left hand soap drawer though !

BlondeHeadOn

iammumtoone wrote: »

Do you use the drawer much? Would it be possible to fit a flat front to the drawer that wouldn't look out of place with the design? Not a very good solution but it seems you are running out of options!!

Yes we use the unit drawer a lot (like every day), so this is not an option. It is a small kitchen, so losing a drawer just because of the W/M is not going to happen.


I think I am going to either have to look for a second hand AEG machine with the left hand soap drawer or buy one of the Hotpoint ones with the space-age-y middle bit, there don't seem to be any other choices.


And there was me thinking that this was a very daft question to ask on this forum, and that you'd all be answering with whole pages of W/M models that I just hadn't managed to find!

CKdesigner

Hi BlondeHeadOn

We have a V-ZUG washing machine and that has the soap drawer on the right.

V-ZUG is made in Switzerland, all their machines have the soap drawers on the right. They are amazing machines but this does make them pretty much the most expensive domestic washing machines on the market.

Have a look on their website and let me know if you would like any further help with them.

CK

**Patty**

This one appears to have it slightly offset: http://www.johnlewis.com/zanussi-zwf81260w-washing-machine-8kg-load-a-energy-rating-1200rpm-spin-white/p1603098


This one, whilst the drawer is on the left, it is only 54.2cm deep......so could sit further under the work surface: http://www.johnlewis.com/zanussi-zwh7148p-slimdepth-washing-machine-7kg-load-a-energy-rating-1400rpm-spin-white/p1601106?kpid=233783113&s_kenid=43a201a0-7a5d-48a9-e3cd-000044035455&s_kwcid=128x39955&tmad=c&tmcampid=73

poppellerant

BlondeHeadOn, I would stay well clear of the Hotpoint Aqualitis. A friend bought one last year and so far they've three engineer call outs - each time replacing something! Now it's developed a squeaking noise outside it's warranty and only recently leaked.